"And you are all so pale,—so pale that I am ashamed of you! What have you been all doing?"
"Practising, sir,—at least not I, for I have been idle all the morning, for the very first time since I came here, I assure you. I kept thinking and thinking, and expecting and expecting, though I could not tell what, and now I know."
"But I am still very much ashamed of Aronach. Does he lock you up?" with a star of mischief shining from the very middle of each eye.
"Yes, sir, always, as well as the others, of course. I like it very much too; it is so safe."
"Not always, it seems. Well, now let us have a race to the river; and then if you are pale still, I shall take you to Cecilia, and show somebody that it is a question whether he can keep you at home, for all he bolts you in. The day is so fine, so beautiful, that I think the music itself may have a holiday."
"Sir, do you really mean it? Oh, if you do, pray let us go to Cecilia now; for perhaps there is music to hear, and oh! it is so very, very long since I heard any."
"Is it so dear to you that you would rather seek it than all the sunshine and all the heart of spring? Ah! too young to find that anything is better than music, and more to be desired."
"Yes, sir, yes! please to take me. I won't be in the way, it will be enough to walk by you; I don't want you to talk."
"But I do want to talk; I cannot keep quiet. I have a lady's tongue, and yours, I fancy, is not much shorter. We will therefore go now."
"This moment, sir? Oh! I would rather go than have the festival over again."